Mr. Choate to Mr. Hay.
[Mr. Choate reports that notice was given to the United States consul-general at Cape Town on January 10 by the high commissioner that any application from the consul-general for the release of any goods out of the Mashona which actually belong to a citizen of the United States would receive immediate attention; that he, Mr. Choate, is informed that there is no objection to the consul-general acting on behalf of his nationals so far as Her Majesty’s Government are concerned; that Her Majesty’s Government will accordingly assume that he has been authorized to do so, and will consider him responsible in this or any other matter of a similar kind, as between themselves and his nationals and Government; also that Her Majesty’s Government are ready to allow the consul-general to similarly represent his nationals in regard to the purchase by Her Majesty’s Government of American owned flour eventually released by the prize court and also in regard to the American owned flour destined for the enemy’s territory and landed in the British ports of South Africa by British ships because they could not lawfully carry it.]